13 year old Beth ,
You're going to drive to Notre Dame with the Mikas and have a very memorable trip. For some reason both you and Jennifer are reading a book about an anorexic girl and pick up the habits. Jennifer is already smaller than you and will become full fledged anorexic very soon. Please do not compare yourself to her. Please do not adopt her habits. Yes, you all eat a doughnut at the hotel breakfast during the trip. And that should not be a major memory, nor an issue. Remember the fun, the celebration, the beautiful weather and all the things that make Notre Dame unique!
Despite being your closest friend through middle school, Jen will struggle with food, but you will never talk about it. You will also struggle with food and never talk about it.
Jen will eventually go for help to a treatment center in Atlanta during your freshmen year of high school. Be prepared for your reality check and find a way to deal with this. Yes, you'll have crew, and races, and new friends, and fun activities, but you'll still use food to control every anxiety.
You will wish you had a way to ask for help, like Jen got, but you do not know how to describe the issue. Find a way! Stop hiding your food! Stop denying your desire to control everything you eat!
You are smart, beautiful, and fun. Relax and enjoy life!
Sincerely,
36 year old Beth
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